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Legal Proceedings
9 Months Ended
Apr. 30, 2019
Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]  
Legal Proceedings
NOTE 11 – Legal Proceedings
The Company is subject to threats of litigation and is involved in actual litigation and damage claims arising in the ordinary course of business, such as actions related to injuries, property damage, contract disputes, and handling or disposal of vehicles. The material pending legal proceedings to which the Company is a party, or of which any of the Company’s property is subject, include the following matters.
On November 1, 2013, the Company filed suit against Sparta Consulting, Inc. (now known as KPIT) in the 44th Judicial District Court of Dallas County, Texas, alleging fraud, fraudulent inducement, and/or promissory fraud, negligent misrepresentation, unfair business practices pursuant to California Business and Professions Code § 17200, breach of contract, declaratory judgment, and attorney’s fees. The Company sought compensatory and exemplary damages, disgorgement of amounts paid, attorney’s fees, pre- and post-judgment interest, costs of suit, and a judicial declaration of the parties’ rights, duties, and obligations under the Implementation Services Agreement dated October 6, 2011. The suit arose out of the Company’s September 17, 2013 decision to terminate the Implementation Services Agreement, under which KPIT was to design, implement, and deliver a customized replacement enterprise resource planning system for the Company. On January 2, 2014, KPIT removed this suit to the United States District Court for the Northern District of Texas. On August 11, 2014, the Northern District of Texas transferred the suit to the United States District Court for the Eastern District of California for convenience. On January 8, 2014, KPIT filed suit against the Company in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of California, alleging breach of contract, promissory estoppel, breach of the implied covenant of good faith and fair dealing, account stated, quantum meruit, unjust enrichment, and declaratory relief. KPIT sought compensatory and exemplary damages, prejudgment interest, costs of suit, and a judicial declaration of the parties’ rights, duties, and obligations under the Implementation Services Agreement. On June 8, 2016, the Company amended its complaint to include claims that KPIT stole certain intellectual property owned by the Company and acted negligently in its provision of services. The case was tried in April and May 2018. On May 22, 2018, the jury returned a verdict for the Company on its fraud claim against KPIT for $4.7 million, and on its professional negligence claim against KPIT for $16.3 million, and the jury found for KPIT on its implied covenant counterclaim against the Company for $4.9 million.
In a September 10, 2018, post-trial order, the Court reduced the Company’s professional negligence award to $9.1 million, found KPIT liable under California’s Unfair Competition Law (UCL) for fraudulent and unfair conduct and held that the Company could recover restitution of $6.3 million if the Company chooses to forego its fraud and professional negligence damages, found that the Company was not entitled to restitution on its unjust enrichment claim, and awarded KPIT prejudgment interest on its implied covenant counterclaim starting from December 26, 2016. On January 24, 2019, the Court heard argument on the Company’s motion for prejudgment interest, and on KPIT’s motion for judgment notwithstanding the jury verdict, and for new trial. The Court is expected to issue a written opinion on these motions later this year.
The Company provides for costs relating to these matters when a loss is probable and the amount can be reasonably estimated. The effect of the outcome of these matters on the Company’s future consolidated results of operations and cash flows cannot be predicted because any such effect depends on future results of operations and the amount and timing of the resolution of such matters. The Company believes that any ultimate liability will not have a material effect on its consolidated results of operations, financial position or cash flows. However, the amount of the liabilities associated with these claims, if any, cannot be determined with certainty. The Company maintains insurance which may or may not provide coverage for claims made against the Company. There is no assurance that there will be insurance coverage available when and if needed. Additionally, the insurance that the Company carries requires that the Company pay for costs and/or claims exposure up to the amount of the insurance deductibles negotiated when the insurance is purchased.